Chapter 7

They trudged back upstairs. Mary kept yawning all the way to her room. Cassian could understand why. It was almost one o'clock in the morning. He was certain she must be exhausted.

"Goodnight, Cassian," Mary said, entering her room.

"Goodnight," Cassian answered. Mary's door closed. Cassian returned to his own room.

"So, how'd your date go?"

Cassian looked at White Owl. Ida was sitting at the vanity and Jizabel was next to White Owl on the bed. The younger men were grinning.

"If it makes you feel better, you have my blessing," Jizabel said.

Cassian frowned.

"I repeat," White Owl said, "how'd the date go?"

"It wasn't a date."

"Oh? She's figured out you're a boy and asked you, among all of her many guy friends, to go with her to the Crimone Gardens. Alone."

Cassian knew where this was going. "White Owl—"

"I can see what's happening—"

"I mean it—"

"And they don't have a clue!"

"Don't you dare start—"

"They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line," he threw his arm around Jizabel.

Oh God no!

"Our trio's down to two."

"The sweet caress of twilight," Jizabel added.

I don't believe this…

"There's magic, everywhere. And in all this romantic atmosphere…disaster's in the air!"

"Both of you shut up!" Ida snapped.

Thank you, Ida.

"You're both the most unemotional dunces in all of Delilah! Cassandra's more emotional than you are!"

Ouch! That'll sting. "That's a bit harsh, don't you think? Telling them that Cassandra's more of a romantic?"

"Even if it's true?"

"Er…"

"And if he falls in love tonight," White Owl continued, ignoring Ida and Cassian. "It can assumed…"

"His carefree days with us are history…" Jizabel added with a sarcastic sniff.

"In short our paaaall…is dooooooomed…" They both sang.

"You're both jerks," Cassian snapped.

"The sad thing is that they have a point," Ida muttered. "You've gotten rather attached to that girl really quickly. Care to tell why?"

Cassian glared at Ida. "What do you mean 'attached'?"

"Cassian," White Owl said. "Earlier today you and Mary were walking in the park. You can't deny that. Sometime, between then and tonight at the Crimone Gardens, Little Mary figured out that you're a guy. And now that she knows, it's quite easy to tell that something might happen. That is, if it hasn't already happened."

"Nothing has or is going to happen! She thinks I ran away from Delilah. When the Earl is dead, I'll just return, get that body you promised me, and leave. That's all I'm gonna do."

"Boo! You're no fun," White Owl said.

"Very professional though…" Ida added. "You really take your ambitions seriously."

"You do know that all you have to do is finish this poison list and our deal's set," Jizabel added, waving the papers in Cassian's face.

"But wouldn't it be better if I killed him?"

"Er…well…he's got a point," Jizabel said. Cassian sighed and rubbed his eyes. He glanced at the clock.

"Get out."

"Eh?"

"It's been a long day. Do me a favor and let me sleep, will you?"

"Fine," White Owl said. "We'll be back later."

They filed out the window and left. Cassian shook his head and got into bed. In short our pal is doomed…

"I'll show those idiots," I growled. "I'm not going to let my emotions get the best of me."

With that final thought, Cassian drifted to sleep…

Cassian woke earlier than usual the next morning. With a forlorn sigh, he threw the covers off of him and grabbed the book and papers.

He worked until someone knocked on the door. Putting the book and papers back in the drawer, Cassian headed over to open the door.

"Mary? I thought you'd be in bed for a while longer."

"I couldn't sleep," she said, smiling brightly at him.

She's up to something. That smile is almost identical to a certain doctor's.

"I was thinking of visiting Uncle Neil today, but I would really appreciate it if you could come along."

Uncle…Neil?! This doesn't sound good…

"Er…well…"

Mary kept smiling.

Damn…how do people resist this?! "Oh, alright." I've been roped in! Maybe White Owl and the Doctor are right…maybe I am doomed.

"Yay!" Mary hugged him and headed back to her room. "We'll leave after breakfast."

"Sure," Cassian said, closing his own door. What do I do now?! He looked at the bedside drawers. This is taking longer than I thought it would.

With a sigh, Cassian pulled out his usual attire and began to dress. He had only heard of the famous Uncle Neil once from Ida.

If he remembered right, Neil was the Card Master's cousin and the Earl's guardian.

Cassian pulled a cap over his head and exited the room. He descended the stairs toward the kitchen. Entering the room, he sat down and began to eat, bracing himself for something that might become hell really…really…really quickly.

Mary entered a few minutes later and sat across from Cassian.

"Cassian, are you feeling alright?" Mary asked a moment later.

Cassian blinked. "Do I not look alright?"

"Your brow's furrowed. Is something on your mind?"

Cassian shrugged. "It's nothing."

Mary smiled. "Uncle Neil is actually very nice. He might seem a little scary, but he isn't really. He's strict with Cain, but in actuality he's very nice."

Cassian shrugged again. "I'm sure he's not all that bad." Yeah right, Cassian thought. Can't I just stay here and work for once?! Cassian sighed mentally. I guess not.

Once Mary finished eating, she and Cassian left the estate. Mary held Cassian's hand in hers as they walked down the street.

"Where does your uncle live?" Cassian asked.

Mary shrugged. "I'm not entirely sure. But I've been there so many times, I could walk it blindfold."

"Huh?!"

Mary smiled mischievously. "My brother showed me the way in case of an emergency. So he's okay with me going over every so often."

"I take it is walking distance."

"That depends on your definition of walking distance," Mary clarified. "It's easier to take a cab down there, but there are so many shops, that I like to take my time going there. Then I take a cab back home."

"So…it's far."

Mary nodded.

Good Lord! How did yesterday's flow of events turn into something like this?! This chit's using every possible thing in her power to distract me…Cassian rolled his eyes. I've a feeling White Owl and Jizabel are laughing behind a bush or something equally idiotic.

They stopped and Mary looked into the window. Cassian looked at the shop. A flower shop?!

"Forget-Me-Nots," Mary muttered.

"What?"

"The flowers on display are called Forget-Me-Nots. They aren't as elegant as roses. More simplistic, I guess. But they mean essentially the same thing."

Cassian looked closer at the Forget-Me-Nots. They were tiny. A flower like this was relatively the same size as a field daisy and normally would be planted or left in a flower pot, not used to make a bouquet. Even so, the florist did an amazing job creating a bouquet out of the tiny, blue flowers.

The flowers, Cassian thought, must have been specially grown. He glanced at Mary. She was still looking at the Forget-Me-Nots. Cassian blinked. "Mary?"

Mary turned to him. "Hmm?"

"Do you like Forget-Me-Nots?"

Mary nodded. Cassian opened his mouth, but was interrupted by a clap of thunder. Mary pouted. "Ah! It's raining!" She grabbed Cassian's hand and flagged a cab.

Probably better if I don't make any promises, Cassian thought, if I'm going to kill her brother. Cassian, despite himself, winced at the thought. He glanced at Mary, who was looking out the window.

"I've not been to that tea shop yet. And there's the jewelry store Big Brother told me about…"

Well, even if I don't make a promise, once in a while won't hurt…